First edition of a superbly illustrated work, of which the plates were engraved by J. Curtis and are all beautifully handcoloured. The work describes the bivalves only. William Turton (1762-1835) published several works on shells. The genus 'Turtonia' was named in his honour in 1849 by Forbes and Hanley. "Among the other means of our research, we have twice dredged the British Channel, from Berry Head to the Guernsea islands" (from the Preface). Nissen ZBI, 4189; Agassiz IV, 465.